Frequently Asked Questions

It is important to choose the correct Named Insured.  The Named Insured has special rights and duties that are explained in the General Rules of the Insurance policy wording. The Named Insured is responsible for paying insurance premiums, and cheques for claims paid will be made out to the Named Insured. The named insured must be a individual(s) or organization that can legally enter into a contract and process financial transactions.  

Typically, the Named Insured will be the same as the person(s) or organization hosting the event and renting the venue and equipment. Do not put the venue, venue owner, or vendors as the named insured. There is a separate field below for entering the venue information. Once you have purchased the policy, you will receive a blank certificate of insurance that you can use to add venues and vendors as additional insureds or loss payees to your policy, as needed.

Individuals

If you are applying as an individual, please list your full legal name in the Name Insured box. If you are applying on behalf of another individual, put their full legal name as the Named Insured.

Couples

If you are applying as a couple to be married, or on behalf of a couple, please list the full legal names of both individuals in the Name Insured box. 

Partnerships or Joint Ventures

If you are applying as a Partnership or Joint Venture, please list your full legal name and your partner’s or co-venture’s full legal name(s).

Trade Name/Unincorporated Companies  

If you are applying as a company that is not incorporated, please list your full legal name and your unincorporated company name by including the acronym dba (doing business as). 

e.g. “Jane Doe dba ABC Company”

Corporations

If you are applying as a Corporation, please list the full legal name of your corporation including the company’s designation (i.e. Inc. Ltd., LLC, Corp.)

Societies/Foundations/Registered Charities/Religious Organizations/Other Not-For-Profits

Provided the organization is a legal entity, enter the full legal name of the organization, as it would appear on a CRA tax statement.

e.g. “The Arts and Cultural Appreciation Society of Western Ontario”

The insurance company is Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. For over 105 years, Liberty Mutual has been delivering exceptional property and casualty insurance products to businesses and individuals. They are the third largest property and casualty insurer in North America.

Click here to visit their website: https://www.libertymutualgroup.com

Businesses such as a restaurant, bar, club, conference centre or hotel where alcohol is sold or served must maintain primary liquor liability coverage.

Licenced caterers who serve alcohol, even when provided by the host of the event are required to maintain primary liquor liability.

Please be aware that there is no coverage afforded under this policy for claims arising from the operations or actions of your hired vendors. We recommend that you request certificates of insurance on behalf of all of your hired vendors (including caterers, bands).

Please note that primary liquor liability is not available through this program. This should be provided by your vendors or the venue.

If you are serving alcohol at your event, host liquor liability coverage can be purchased. Host liquor liability: designed to cover your liability for alcohol-related claims that result from the serving of alcoholic beverages at social events such as a wedding or business party.

Note that this coverage is offered for a single day event only. The coverage will automatically begin 1-day prior to your event to accommodate set-up; and will expire 1-day after the event for take down.

If you choose to purchase your policy on the same day you want the policy to go into effect, the coverage begins at the time your confirmation email is received with the policy documents.  

If you purchase a policy for a future date, the coverage will begin at 12:01am on the date chosen.

Please note that the policy cannot be backdated.

The main difference between host liquor liability insurance and primary liquor liability insurance is whether or not the individual or company buying the insurance engages in the business of serving or distributing alcoholic beverages. 

Example: a bar, pub or restaurant would require primary liquor liability insurance, whereas someone who only wanted to “cover their bases” during a party or gala could get host liquor liability insurance.

HOST LIQUOR LIABILITY INSURANCE – CONSIDER IT FOR YOUR WEDDING

If you’re not primarily engaged in the serving or distribution of alcoholic beverages as a business, but you still want to “cover your bases” during an event where alcohol is being served, you should consider getting Host liquor liability coverage.

Host liquor liability coverage is designed to cover your liability for alcohol-related claims that result from the serving of alcoholic beverages at social events such as a wedding or business party.

Host liquor liability insurance does not cover you if you are in the business of serving or distributing alcoholic beverages.

Any events involving the following activities would not be insurable under this program:

• Stunts;
• Hang Gliding, Parasailing, Parachuting, Tobogganing, Luge, Go-Carts, Motorized Racing of any kind, Monster Truck Events, Skateboarding, Snowboarding, Skiing, Trampolines, Bungee Jumping, Zip Line, Waterslides, Hot Air Balloon rides, Sky Coaster, Roller Coasters, Rodeo, Mechanical Bulls or any similar activity;
• All animals – including but not limited to petting zoos, dog shows, animal training, pony rides, hay rides or pets
• Pyrotechnics - which include, but are not limited to, explosions, flashes, smoke, flames, fireworks, and fire-crackers; explosions
• Aircraft including unmanned aerial vehicles/drones 
• Watercraft – this includes events taking place on a boat; or any use of watercrafts for an event
• Haunted houses, all Amusement Park devices, rides or games
• Inflatable Attractions
• Practicing for, participation in or officiating at any athletic contest, event or exhibition. Practicing for, participating in or officiating, either on or off the playing surface of any sport or athletic contest or exhibition you sponsor or sanction, or in which your employees or guests participate.
• Any person/artist you contract with while practicing for or participating in any contest, demonstration, event, exhibition, race, class, concert or show, or while officiating either on or off the playing surface of any sport or athletic contest or exhibition you sponsor or sanction or at any event you manage/produce or promote
• Practicing for or participating in any contest, demonstration, event, exhibition, race, class, concert or show
• Ownership, use, operation or entrustment to others by or on behalf of any Insured of any motorized vehicle
• Objects of any kind thrown or tossed over or into the audience or any other members of the public during any performance or rehearsal by 1. An Insured; 2. Your agents; 3. Any contract artist hired by you, or 4. Anyone else authorized  by you
• Or any similar activity

This coverage is designed to protect against sums up to the coverage limit that the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as compensatory damages because of bodily injury or property damage to which this insurance applies. Coverage is restricted solely to the designated operations listed on the binder/policy. It includes the cost of a lawyer to defend you, and is subject to policy terms, limitations and exclusions.

Once coverage is purchased you will be provided a certificate that can be issued to your venue/location and vendors naming them as an additional insured.

This policy excludes liability arising out of the use of motor vehicles, aircraft or watercraft.

Click Here to read to full policy terms, limitations and exclusions

COVID 19: All coverage under this policy will exclude claims arising out of or related to any loss caused directly or indirectly by or resulting from the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov), Covid-19 or any subsequent naming by the World Health Organization of Coronavirus or mutation thereof and sequelae.

Multiple Canadian provinces require that events that will be serving alcohol have the servers trained under a server training program. This is to ensure that servers are prepared to make informed choices when they sell, serve, or offer alcohol.

Regulations vary by province; see below:

• BC: Serving it Right (mandatory for retailers, licensees, servers, and those serving liquor under a special occasion license)
• Alberta: ProServe (mandatory for staff involved in the sale and service of liquor in licensed premises)
• SK: Serve it Right (not mandatory)
• MB: Smart Choices (mandatory for selling in licensed service or retail establishment)
• Ontario: Smart Serve (mandatory for new liquor sales licence holders, including new licence applicants, licence transfer applicants and temporary transfer applicants intending to operate an establishment)
• QC: Service in Action (not mandatory)
• NS: It’s Just Good Business (not mandatory)
• NB: Responsible Beverage (not mandatory)
• PEI: Responsible Beverage (mandatory: licensees and their employees must be in possession of this training certificate prior to working in a licensed premise)
• NL: Serve Responsible (not mandatory)

General Liability:

• Each Occurrence: $500 for claims of Bodily Injury / Property Damage
• Tenant Legal Liability: $500 Per Claim

Video: What is a deductible?

Check out these videos on how to add an additional insured to your policy:

How do I add an additional insured to my policy?

What does it mean to add an additional insured to my policy?

Please be aware that there is no coverage afforded under this policy for claims arising from the operations or actions of your hired vendors. We recommend that you request certificates of insurance on behalf of all of your hired vendors (including caterers, bands).

Businesses such as a restaurant, bar, club, conference centre or hotel where alcohol is sold or served must maintain their own primary liquor liability coverage.

Once coverage is purchased you will be provided a certificate that can be issued to your venue/location and vendors naming them as an additional insured.

If your event type is not listed you are not eligible to complete the purchase of insurance under this program.

Please note: dance, musical, theatrical, or other performance events require a different kind of insurance coverage through our online SOLO Theatre program. If your event is not eligible for coverage through our SOLO program, please contact our office.

Yes, you should purchase event insurance even for a virtual event because issues can still arise at the venue where the virtual event is being streamed; e.g., property damage, bodily injury.

If your virtual event is a general event (non-performance), buy event insurance.
If your virtual event is a dance, musical, theatrical or other performance event, buy SOLO theatrical insurance.

Note: for virtual events that transact financial data, such as credit card information, there will be no cyber coverage if the information is breached.

If you’re holding a dance, musical, theatrical or other performance event, you only need to purchase one policy: SOLO theatrical insurance.

If you are serving alcohol at your event, you may need to obtain a permit from the respective provincial governing body.  In order to determine if you need a permit / license please review the requirements in the province your event is being held in.  Suggested sites:

Newfoundland - https://nlliquorcorp.com/doing-business-with-nlc/licensees/apply-for-a-liquor-license-in-newfoundland-labrador

Nova Scotia - https://novascotia.ca/sns/access/alcohol-gaming/liquor/special-occasion-liquor-licenses.asp

PEI - https://liquorpei.com/licensing-permits/permits/

New Brunswick - https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/public-safety/services/services_renderer.200824.Liquor_Licences.html#serviceDescription

Quebec - https://www.racj.gouv.qc.ca/en/formulaires-et-publications/forms/alcohol/reunion-permits/application-for-a-reunion-permit.html(English)

https://www.racj.gouv.qc.ca/formulaires-et-publications/formulaires/alcool/permis-de-reunion/demande-de-permis-de-reunion.html(French)

Ontario - https://www.agco.ca/alcohol/special-occasion-permits-private-event

Manitoba - https://lgcamb.ca/liquor/social-occasion-liquor-permits/

Saskatchewan - https://www.slga.com/permits-and-licences/liquor-permits/special-occasion-permits

Alberta - https://aglc.ca/liquor/liquor-licences/applying-licence/liquor-licences-private-special-events

British Columbia - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/liquor-regulation-licensing/liquor-licences-permits/applying-for-a-liquor-licence-or-permit/special-event-liquor-permit

Yukon - https://yukon.ca/en/liquor-permits-types

Northwest Territories - https://www.fin.gov.nt.ca/en/services/apply-nwt-liquor-permit/special-occasion-permits

Nunavut - https://www.gov.nu.ca/finance/information/special-occasion-permits

The selling of alcohol requires a licence and primary liquor liability coverage. This is not available through the online program.

Businesses such as a restaurant, bar, club, conference centre or hotel where alcohol is sold or served must maintain primary liquor liability coverage.

Licenced caterers who serve alcohol, even when provided by the host of the event are required to maintain primary liquor liability.

Host liquor liability coverage is available through the online program.

Host liquor liability coverage does not cover you if you are in the business of serving or distributing alcoholic beverages.

Once you have purchased coverage, you will receive an email with the policy binder, policy wordings and a blank certificate. You can use this blank certificate to issue certificates to the following parties only who are asking to be added as loss payee and/or additional insured:

1. Lessors of premises Rented/Leased to the event(s).
2. Equipment rental companies, but only with respect to the maintenance, operation or use of the equipment by the Named Insured.

The full legal name and address of the party to whom the certificate is issued should be typed into the appropriate location on the certificate. Under no circumstances should the certificate wordings be altered, added to or amended in any way.

HONEYMOON CANCELLATION

CORONAVIRUS EXCLUSION:  We will not pay for any loss or expense caused directly or indirectly by or resulting from the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov).

What is covered under this section:

Honeymoon: The holiday taken by the newly married couple within 90 days of the date of the wedding ceremony

The Insurer will cover the Insured, up to the amount shown on the binder of insurance issued online, if the Insureds pre-booked honeymoon is not taken as a direct result of the Insureds wedding being cancelled under the terms and conditions stated in this policy.

What is not covered under this section:

(a)          Any claim that is not supported by a valid travel insurance policy for all of the insured persons taking the honeymoon

Click Here to read to full policy terms, limitations and exclusions

Front Row's event insurance program includes basic liability coverage limits for small festivals or concerts with an attendance under 500. This program mainly offers General Liability cover. General Liability covers bodily injury and property damage that occur during the course of the event. A General Liability policy will only be triggered when brought to legal action. A General Liability policy will satisfy third party vendors and locations. We do however offer additional coverages including host liquor liability and increased limits for damage to premises rented to you.

Our online program is not meant for festivals or concerts with a capacity over 500 attendees. A major music festival will have much higher exposures and should have coverage that is tailored to their needs. We do offer coverage for larger music festivals but not through this particular online program; contact us to discuss.

See also: Concert Insurance: Things That Go Unseen

COVID 19: All coverage under this policy will exclude claims arising out of or related to any loss caused directly or indirectly by or resulting from the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov), Covid-19 or any subsequent naming by the World Health Organization of Coronavirus or mutation thereof and sequelae.

This online program is currently only available for Canadian residents and Canadian registered companies. If you're in the US, click here to access the US event insurance site.

For individuals, partnerships or corporations based in Québec wishing to get more information or to purchase coverage, please contact one of our brokers by:

Completing an online application: HERE

Emailing US at: MONoffice@frontrowinsurance.com

Calling us at 514-382-9625.